𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 - this week: Bury Me in My Boots - Map of Autumn

Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly - an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙈𝙮 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨 - 𝙈𝙖𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙣

Charles briefly does it…

In a selfish (or kind) way, I’m going to keep this short. The reason being, at the time of writing, it is Bank Holiday Monday (at least here in England). But I didn’t want to simply not write an article this week, just for the sake of a lazy Monday. It wouldn’t be fair on the artist who would miss out on their earned praise. I know most of you - if plonked in my shoes - wouldn’t even contemplate working on a Bank Holiday Monday. But perhaps a few of you might think it their duty to carry on regardless. I’m doing the annoying thing of meeting halfway. Neither one thing nor the other. Not ignoring my duty, but not putting in everything I’ve got for most of the day.

Lately I have been rather overwhelmed by various messages from several people. Overwhelmed in a good way. It seems that for some artists I have become a role model of some sort. Which is ridiculous. One, said my productions for other artists are of the gold standard to which they aspire. Another, said that my songs really help them get through the tougher times in life. And several have told me that they use my mixes as reference tracks for their own mixing. Hence overwhelmed. I was not aware that my music or skills had really any impact on people, other than perhaps “this one’s cool - I like this one”. You see, I just do what I do, without too much thought. I do have high standards, but that’s really only for myself, and not to prove anything to others. To receive these messages is flattering, to say the least; but I must say I do feel unworthy of such high praise. It seems they want to follow in my footsteps, as if I am some sort of “music guru”. Which is ridiculous. But again, I am just so flattered.

This all made me wonder about my own role models and idols. Have I learnt my ways through others? Did I follow along, analyse and copy until I came close? Do I even HAVE any role models or idols? I know some of my melodies have been influenced by McCartney, but only in melodic style rather than straight thievery. Other than that, I can’t see that I have consciously followed anyone. I’ve been me. Whether it’s the songs, the productions, the mixing or even these very articles; I just do what I do. It just arrives (with much honing from experience). There is a certain satisfaction from having done things my way. I am proud of my recent journey so far. Of course, I hope that people have been enjoying whatever I choose to chuck out there, and I would very much like to be remembered for these things. But in no way do I wish to be copied. My shoes are not for filling. Besides, they’d be far too small for you. I’m doing my thing, so you should do yours. Learn from your own experience, and learn from your own mistakes. Also, who would want to follow someone who half works on Bank Holiday Monday. You either do something or you don’t!

And already, we’re on to the music! Double-quick time for the soldier that is Tim Rhys Davies - it doesn’t get more Welsh than that. He is in fact in Sussex, England. But who’s Tim…? He is the sum total of the “band”, Map of Autumn. The last thing we heard from this chap of Autumn was back in November; his ‘The Sun Will Shine’ album. But now he’s back with an altogether more rocky affair: Bury Me in My Boots. More grit than ever before, and his own mixing skills have grown another level. But let’s first touch on the subject of the song. The title hit me. I knew he was fond of those comfy red shoes of his, but I don’t think I’d ever seen him in boots of any kind. Couldn’t even IMAGINE it, if I’m honest. And then I realised I was being silly. This wasn’t a song about some sort of perverted fetishistic wish, but actually something altogether more meaningful and thought provoking. Something that goes back to the days of war. Those brave soldiers who once trudged the dangerous terrain, fighting for their country and their life. Often only one of those remained in motion. These poor souls knew all too well that their journey might only need a one-way ticket. They knew the responsibility, and they knew the risk. But most of all, they knew their duty. Their duty to win, or die trying. Hence the idiom “to be buried in one’s boots”. It means to be remembered for their cause. And it was THIS that Tim evidently wanted to moot. He wants to be remembered for what he has achieved. A little bit like my song Come The End. But Tim goes further by prefacing this with “If my shoes are hard to fill…”, perhaps suggesting that one should not attempt to replicate his achievements, but simply to let those achievements live on in the memory. Then again, this preface might mean “if his passing cannot be averted”…? Oh, the joys of interpretation! Even “Bury Me in my Boots” could mean the complete opposite. It could mean that he wishes for all relation and connection to Tim as a thing to be forgotten; for his achievements to be laid to rest alongside his soul… But I doubt that. The thing is, the theme of this song so perfectly coincides with the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day): a time ultimately for celebration, but also for remembering and praising those who fought for their country.

Map of Autumn kicks in like an octave-devouring karate kid. I am SURE he has an octave pedal on his main guitar for that added girth and weight. The drums headbang their way through the intro with the knowledge that it is short-lived: like the sales boast, "get it while you still can"! It’s a half-tempo crash that gets under your skin. But all too soon, it is dispersed and formed into something more akin to what we all know and love from Tim. That honest, slightly regretful voice so familiar; it’s a serious tone that’s got something to say. So listen up!- despite its steady flow. All in relatively low register, he sings the first few lines. But with the lyric “Scares the hell out of me”, the word “scares” is possibly my favourite monosyllabic utterance from Map of Autumn to date. He soars. And straight in to a chorus that is just oh-so Map. Just quintessential Map all over. The difference being… Well, actually the difference is major, but I didn’t even realise until about the fourth listen! It’s the timing. It’s in 5/4. Normally a song predominantly in 4/4 will want to stick with 4/4 throughout, for fear of sounding awkward. But this song wants to break out of its shell without being noticed. Lord knows how a chorus of 5/4 passed me by, but it did, many times.

Bury Me in My Boots feels like Tim’s best performance in terms of singing and playing (all him), but it’s the drums that stick out as being the star. I think I feel bold enough to say in public that Map of Autumn achieves the best drums of any New Artist Spotlight member. As to the whole mix itself, it feels like Tim has turned another several pages, and is halfway through the “Advanced” chapter. I actually asked him what tracks he used for reference (a common technique used by most mixing engineers - myself occasionally included). His reply was simple: “I don’t use any. Just a lot of revisions and tweaking”. What a satisfying response! He has a sound in his head, and he tries his damnedest to achieve just that. Thank you, Map of Autumn! To quote Elton John: "The bitch is back", and backer than ever!

Apologies, Tim, for such a brief article. But it’s Bank Holiday Monday, and the sun is raining! As is tradition.

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